MLB Player News

Belt (illness) is out of the lineup again Sunday versus the Royals.

Belt hasn't appeared in a game since Sept. 2, first due to back trouble and then because of an illness. Granted, he probably would have sat Sunday either way with left-hander Cole Ragans toeing the slab for Kansas City. Bo Bichette will take a turn in the DH role as Ernie Clement starts at shortstop.

Alvarez went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, two runs, two RBI and a walk in Saturday's 7-5 win over San Diego.

Alvarez put the Astros on the board in the third inning with his 407-foot solo shot. He added another RBI on a ground-rule double in the fifth and came around to score following that knock. Alvarez has gone deep three times in his past four games, going 7-for-13 with seven RBI and six walks over that stretch. He needs four more homers before the end of the campaign to reach 30 for the third straight season.

Ohtani (oblique) will sit for a sixth straight game Saturday against Cleveland, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani has been absent for the last several days with inflammation in his right oblique, an issue separate from the torn UCL which will eventually require surgery. Between his two injuries and the fact that the Angels are well out of the playoff race, it would hardly be a surprise if Ohtani were to be shut down, but the team still considers him day-to-day.

Meneses isn't in the Nationals' lineup Saturday against the Dodgers, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Meneses will get a breather Saturday after going 1-for-4 with a run scored in Friday's series opener. Lane Thomas will fill in as the Nats' designated hitter while Jake Alu, Jacob Young and Travis Blankenhorn man the outfield.

Belt (illness) remains out of the lineup Saturday against the Royals.

Belt hasn't played in a week, first due to back issues and then due to a stomach virus. It's not clear exactly when he'll return to the field, but the Blue Jays haven't felt the need to place him on the injured list to this point. Spencer Horwitz will be Saturday's designated hitter.

Martinez went 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Friday's 8-5 win over the Nationals.

Activated from the IL earlier in the day, Martinez wasted little time proving he was fully recovered from his groin injury, as he drove a MacKenzie Gore slider over the fence in right-center field for a two-run shot in the first inning. It's his first long ball since July 25 and 26th of the season, and the 36-year-old DH might have enough time left on the calendar to reach 30 homers for the first time since 2019.

Ramirez went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a second run scored in Friday's victory over the Mariners.

Ramirez went yard in the seventh inning off Isaiah Campbell to give the Rays a lead they never conceded. This was his first home run since June 8, ending a drought that lasted 190 plate appearances, and his 10th of the year. Ramirez has reached double-digit homers for the second time in his career after first achieving the feat in his 2019 rookie season with the Marlins.

Pederson was added to the lineup for Friday's game against the Rockies, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Colorado is sending left-hander Ty Blach to the mound and Pederson usually sits versus southpaws, but he's been pressed into duty with Austin Slater (dizziness) having to be scratched. Thairo Estrada (conjunctivitis) was also removed from the Giants' initial batting order.

Pederson is out of the lineup Friday versus Colorado.

J.D. Davis will serve as the Giants' designated hitter and Luis Matos will play left field with left-hander Ty Blach toeing the slab for the Rockies. Pederson has a .503 OPS in 47 plate appearances against southpaws this year.

The Rangers transferred Miller (hamstring) to the 60-day injured list Friday.

A strained left hamstring forced Miller to the injured list Aug. 2, so his move to the 60-day IL will keep him out through the end of the regular season. Evan Carter was selected from Triple-A Round Rock in a corresponding move and will fill Miller's spot on the 40-man roster.